What if you are the next target of an assassin looking for a chance to end your life? How are you going to save yourself? Directed by Guy Hamilton, the spy-thriller film follows Bond investigating the death of three agents before he becomes the assassin’s next target.
It focuses on Bond trying to crack the ultimate plan of Mr. Kananga, a global threat dealing with heroin. Produced by Harry Saltzman and Albert R. Broccoli, the thriller film stars Roger Moore playing the role of James Bond, an MI 6 agent, and Yaphet Kotto playing the role of Dr. Kanaga, the film’s antagonist, and a drug lord.
Jane Seymour plays the role of Solitaire, a psychic and James’ love interest. Clifton James plays Sheriff J.W. Pepper’s role, Julius W. Harris plays Tee Hee’s character, and Geoffrey Holder plays Baron Samedi’s role in the lead.
Released on 27 June 1973, the spy-thriller film earned a massive collection of $161.8 M with an initial budget of $7M. Every movie featuring Bond’s character has been a massive hit amongst the audience.
The film has a run time of 121 minutes following Bond’s investigation to find the masterminds of Mr. Kananga’s ultimate plans. Roger’s performance as Bond in the spy-thriller was immensely loved and appreciated by the viewers. Some viewers felt that Roger failed to fill the legacy left behind by Sean Connery.
The film took inspiration from a novel by Ian Fleming titled Live And Let Die. The film has done well amongst the viewers, with some feeling that Roger wasn’t the right fit for Live And Let Die. The film’s prime focus on the movie was on Bond and Mr. Big, a Harlem drug lord.
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Live And Let Die Premise
The film focuses on Bond on his quest to know the plans of the drug lord Mr. Kananga after an assassin kills three known agents. The film starts with three MI6 agents being killed under mysterious circumstances within 24 hours.
James Bond, popularly known as Bond 007, gets sent out to New York to investigate Mr Kananga, the drug lord and the island dictator. Meanwhile, Kananga visits New York in the United States, and Bond’s driver gets shot by Whisper when they arrive in the same vicinity.
Whisper takes Bond to Felix Leiter of the CIA before Bond is almost killed in a car accident. Meanwhile, Bond decides to follow the killer using his license plate to Harem, where he meets Mr. Big, a mob boss and the owner of a chain of restaurants in the United States.
Bond and the C.I.A. are unable to figure out the reason behind a powerful black gangster and an unimportant island leader together. Meanwhile, Bond meets with Solitaire, an alluring tarot reader with the power to see the future and Obeah.
Mr. Big instructs his men to end Bond’s life, but the agent escapes narrowly after overpowering them with CIA agent Strutter’s help. Bond meets with Rosie Carver, a CIA agent, after flying to San Monique, and together they meet Quarrel Jr., Bond’s ally.
Quarrel Jr. takes the pair to Solitaire’s home by boat, and Rosie escapes after Bond starts suspecting her of being a double agent, but unfortunately for her, she gets killed by Kananga remotely. Solitaire agrees to cooperate with Bond after she loses her virginity to him following Bond’s seduction.
Another reason behind Solitaire agreeing to help Bond is her realizing that Kananga would kill her as she is of no use to him due to her losing the power to foretell the future. This leads to Bond escaping with Solitaire by boat and then flying to New Orleans.
Bond gets captured by Mr. Big the moment he lands in New Orleans with Solitaire, and it also gets revealed that Mr. Big is Kananga after he removes his prosthetic face. Kananga has been protecting and producing heroin by exploiting the fear of the locals of San Monique and their belief in voodoo priest Baron.
Mr. Kananga’s ultimate plan is to distribute heroin free of cost through his restaurants to increase the number of addicts. He also plans on bankrupting other dealers with his giveaway plans and then increasing the price of his heroin to earn profit.
Kananga turns Solitaire over to Baron for him to sacrifice her in a fit of rage after realizing that she has lost her ability to read Tarot cards. Meanwhile, Bond sets the drug laboratory on fire before escaping on a speed boat as he is pursued by Kanaga’s henchmen.
After a severe cat-and-mouse chase, the film ends with Bond and Solitaire leaving the country on a train with a laughing Samedi standing before the train.
Live And Let Die: Filming Locations
1. Jamaica
Known for its coffee beans, snorkeling sites, and red stripe beer, a beautiful Caribbean island nation, Jamaica was used by the production crew of Live And Let Die to film the majority of the spy-thriller movie. Runaway Caves, Runaway Bay, in Jamaica, was used to film the part with the cave scene that served as Kananga’s underground lair.
Gunpoint Wharf Docks, Cornwall in Jamaica, was used to film the part with a fillet of Soul restaurant, and the scene with James hiring Quarrel Jr.’s boat was also filmed here. Room 52, Bungalow 9, Montego Bay, Jamaica, was used to film the part with James’ hotel room in San Monique.
Jamaica Safari Village was used by the crew to film the scene with crocodiles attacking Bond while he is trying to escape. Johnson Town, Jamaica, was used to film the part with the bridge cutting off the bus top. Kananga’s Cliff, Jamaica, was used to film the part with Solitaire’s hideout between Rio and Tower Isle.
Rose Hall Waterfall, Jamaica, was used to film the part with James and Solitaire confronting Baron Samedi together. Hampden Wharf Jetty, Jamaica, was used to film the part with the end of the bus chase at Quarrel’s boat. Sans Souci Resort, Jamaica, was used to film the part with James acquiring Solitaire’s tarot card. Half Moon Bay was used to film the part with Rosie’s house.
2. New Orleans
Known 9for its Creole cuisine, distinctive music, and unique dialects, a beautiful city on the Mississippi River, New Orleans, was used by the production crew to film some of the major scenes of the movie. 826 Chartres Street, New Orleans, was used to film the part with Fillet of Soul restaurant.
Lakefront Airport, New Orleans, was used to film the part with Bleeker Flying School where Bond smashes an airplane’s wings. Louisiana State Highway was used to film the part with James’ speedboat jumping over the highway. Miller’s Bridge, Louisiana, was used to film the part with the boat chase scene.
Boatyard, Louisiana, was used to film the part with Adam’s death. Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana, was used to film the part with the boat chase between Bond and Kanaga’s henchmen. Kenner, Louisiana, was used to film the part with New Orleans International Airport.
3. Manhattan
Known for towering skyscrapers and iconic attractions, one of the most beautiful boroughs of New York, Manhattan, was used by the production crew to film some of the scenes from the spy-thriller.
The production crew used 33 East 65th Street Manhattan to film the part with Oh Cult voodoo shop. Madison Avenue, Manhattan, was used to film the part with the Oh Cult voodoo shop’s parking lot. 118th Street, Manhattan, was used to film the part with the Harleem fight.
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